He’s the biggest country star in the world, the best-selling artist in the genre’s history, and next summer he’s headlining Slane Castle. Yet when Luke Combs was announced, a lot of people in Ireland asked the same thing: who is he?

To his fans, the question sounds absurd. Combs has outsold Garth Brooks, filled stadiums across America, and built a huge following among younger listeners who are redefining what country music means.

But why does this genre connect so strongly with Irish audiences?

In today’s episode, Ciara speaks with Simon Maher, music broadcaster and lecturer, and Robert Mizzell, country musician, about the roots of Ireland’s long love affair with country, how the scene is changing, and why a Slane Castle crowd might be the perfect fit for Luke Combs.

From Nashville to Navan, we explore who’s really listening to the music and what happened to the outlaws like Cash and Christopherson.

Have thoughts on the episode or ideas for future topics? Email us at newstalkdaily@newstalk.com